Spiritual Check Up

We had an Elder's visit last week, in regards to wanting to join Redeemer Church. It was a really nice time spent with the two visiting Elders who came, and they asked us some really good questions. 

One thing that they gave us just before leaving was a document entitled 'Annual Spiritual Check Up'. I have to confess I only just read it this morning, but it is very good! So I thought that I would share it on here. 

It is from the C.S. Lewis Institute website, and explains itself well (as well as poses some very good and challenging questions for us to ask ourselves)...

C.S. Lewis Institute 

Discipleship of Heart and Mind 

www.cslewisinstitute.org 

Annual Spiritual Checkup 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:37-40 

Each year many of us will go through a physical check-up, perhaps do a financial check up at year’s end or at tax time, and perhaps do a performance review at our workplace.   But how often do we take time to review our spiritual life? 

Those who are saved by grace are called to grow in grace (2 Pet. 3.18).  As disciples of Jesus, we are to live a life of love – love for God and love for our neighbor, in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Too often, in the busyness of our day-to-day lives, we let other priorities crowd out the two highest priorities Jesus gave us.   The following questions are designed to help you examine your spiritual life over the past year and to prayerfully seek God’s help in areas where you desire to grow in the New Year.    

Loving God with all your heart, soul and mind. 

1. How is my personal relationship with God? 

• Do I have a growing desire to spend more time with God? Am I spending appropriate time praying, reading and meditating on the word?
• Am I growing in my desire to obey and please God?  Do I obey out of gratitude for God’s love?  Or from guilt or fear? 
• Have I fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit?  Do I ask God to fill me each day with the Holy Spirit? 
• Are there areas I am holding back from God?  Which ones?  Why? 
• Am I more aware of the sins in my life? Do I repent on a daily basis and receive forgiveness and cleansing from God. Have I fully, truthfully repented of all past and current sins? 

2. Am I actively serving God?  

• Volunteering at church? 
• Praying regularly for the pastor, staff, missionaries and volunteers? 
• Am I seeking to make others feel welcome in my church? 
• Doing my job with excellence? 
• Reaching out to those around me? 

3. Am I growing in my desire and actions to give sacrificially to God’s work in the church, in caring for the poor, and in other ministries?  

• Am I teaching my children about sacrificial giving and putting God before materialistic desires? 

4. Am I living in humility before God, my family, friends and co-workers?

5. Is there evidence of grace growing in my life? 

• Do I thank God every day for his love, grace and mercy and saving me from what I deserve? 
• Am I seeing evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in my life (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control)? 
• Am I learning to see others through the mind of Christ?  
• Am I treating others with the same grace God has shown me? 

Loving Your Neighbor 

6. Am I loving my family as I should? 

• Husbands, are you loving your wives? How, specifically? 
• Wives, are you respecting your husbands?  How, specifically? 
• Parents – are we teaching our children the Bible, how to pray, and how to please God? 
• Children, are you honoring your parents?  How, specifically? 
• Am I managing my time in a way that reflects God’s priorities and honors my family relationships?  What specific changes are needed? 
• Are there any outside influences that are harming my family relationships?  If so, what will I do about them? 

7. Am I forgiving others?

• Is there anyone among my family, friends, neighbors or co- workers that I refuse to forgive?  
• Do I fully trust that God has forgiven my sins? 

8. Am I growing in fellowship with other believers? 

• Am I part of a small group?  Is it making a difference in the lives of participants? 
• Do I have a godly mentor to help me grow in my walk with Christ? 
• Am I mentoring / discipling a newer believer? 

9. Have I personally witnessed to anyone in the past year? 

• In my neighborhood?
• In my workplace?
• Am I prepared to share my testimony? To share the Gospel?  
• Am I fervently praying for and planning opportunities to witness in this coming year?
• Am I being salt and light in my neighborhood, workplace and social groups? How, specifically? 

10. Am I focusing part of my time and money to help the poor and disadvantaged?  

• Am I teaching my children about the importance of helping the poor?  How? 

Jesus says that if we love him, we will obey him (Jn. 14.15), and he calls us to grow in grace and love. Do you have a plan for growing in your love for God and love for your neighbor for this next year?  Will you prayerfully prepare one before the end of the year?  To help you grow in these areas, you’ll find a variety of resources on our website (www.cslewisinstitute.org).

(N.B Just a note from Hannah - I don't claim to have written any of this - it is very good challenging stuff from the C.S. Lewis website. To read more you can visit their site - and you can also download a printable version of this Check-Up here. I think that they make a VERY good point when they say that this is something that we need to prioritize each year, and each day in our daily meditations - and it is something that I can confess I haven't been very good at. But what a blessing to have such a reminder right? And what a blessing that we have such a gracious God that will show us such patience, and send us gentle and loving reminders like this huh! It lends even more motivation to want to do it.)

A new chapter (you gotta love those!)

Well, we have only 6 more days left in New Zealand. And although it is the second time we have left home to embark on a new adventure, this time has a distinctly different feel to it. 

Byee byee NZ we will miss you!

For one thing, we leave for a different purpose. Josh is looking forward very much to starting study at MARS (although I think there are a few nerves in regards to Intensive Greek over the summer, but he is very stoic in his preparation for it). :) Last time we were headed to the UK for a 'working-holiday', whereas this time it's more about the 'work' less about the holiday (well, more so for Josh anyway ;)).

Heading into the ministry is a very daunting albeit exciting prospect. Speaking for myself, there are times when doubtful and disparaging thoughts pop into my head. And I confess, it's a massive blessing to remember that we are not going in our own strength! (Praise God for that!)

And this has already been illustrated to us in a huge number of ways. We are crazy overwhelmed by the generosity of the people in the RCNZ (Reformed Churches of New Zealand). Without this support, we wouldn't be going. It's as simple as that! 

And we are so thankful for the prayers and encouraging words that people have given us. Again, without these - it would be too easy to fall victim to those doubt thoughts that threaten to sneak in all the time. 

So, with great thankfulness to God, for all He has already given us (even though we haven't even left yet!) we embark on a journey that really does start a new chapter in our lives. 

As as much as we are leaving for a different purpose this time (maybe a bit more on our last trip in another post ;)), we have the same ultimate goals:

To best serve our Saviour wherever He sends us; 

trusting in Him for strength and guidance; 

acknowledging that everything good we receive is from Him; 

and being willing, in humility, to learn to be more like Jesus. 

So! Here we go! 
~Hannah

P.S. We would love your prayer support in the lead up to us leaving - particularly in regards to having all our documentation sorted, trying to sell our car, and making sure our bags aren't overweight (which sounds kind of silly, but if we are overweight we have to pay an extra $200! :p). And most importantly, that we will keep calm, trusting and not stress (ok, yup I'm mostly talking about me - Josh already is very good at these things, I'm so thankful for him!)